Greater Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce
October 2021 Update
In October 2021, Local First Arizona brought together four focus groups and conducted (75) one-on-one interviews with businesses and organizations in Cottonwood.
Collectively, the 100+ businesses identify Cottonwood’s efforts in tourism, proximity to Sedona, and ability to never go stagnant help to strengthen the entrepreneurial value proposition for business owners. There is a general sense of connection that unified the businesses to common goals and a sense of community in those connections.
Challenges identified included the costs and process to starting and/or expanding a business, availability of a skilled workforce, affordability of workforce housing, and infrastructure to support the safety and efficiency of the expected continued community expansion.
To address these challenges, a Business Advisory Committee will be convened in early November to discuss potential programs that can be developed within the Chamber and the community to help strengthen entrepreneurship in Cottonwood.
“Since working with Local First Arizona, I’ve seen an increase in Staff energy and engagement from our Members. I am excited for our future and service to our community.”
Where It All Began:
Chambers of Commerce across the country are facing a multitude of challenges as they attempt to pivot their organizations to meet the needs of their members in an ever-changing business environment. For more than a decade, technology has threatened the existence of Chambers as more and more businesses believe that online resources are their best source of marketing and growth. Many Chamber executives and Board of Directors are faced with the question, “Why would I join (or renew my membership with) the Chamber?” And as many of them find that answer to be truly elusive.
In 2020, coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce was experiencing pressure from a variety of angles. COVID had wiped out income that had traditionally been accrued through community events. Members (businesses in their community) were struggling to stay afloat and a Chamber membership did not rank as a high priority when facing workforce challenges, added costs safety and wellness precautions, past due utilities and rents, and lost revenue for almost a year. In addition, tourism dollars that had helped to sustain the operating budget of the Chamber were realigned to meet changing priorities within the City; all leading to an urgent need to realign their mission.
The Cottonwood Chamber engaged Local First Arizona, one of the largest locally-owned business coalitions in the country, to restructure the programs and value proposition of the organization. A restructuring plan would serve as an opportunity to rebuild trust in a community, learn and work to fill any gaps, and come together to create a roadmap of actionable outcomes that support the mission and vision of the Greater Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce for years to come.
So, with a goal to overcome the barrage of obstacles coming at them, the group agreed to take an intensive look at the true needs of their business and surrounding community. As a starting point to restructuring the organization, the Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce reached out to a large group of community leaders, along with partner organizations that included the City of Cottonwood and the Yavapai College SBDC to gauge areas of interest and opportunities for improvement from their perspective. Five primary groups were identified for the Chamber to dig deeper and to capture historically unheard voices and unmet needs. These five groups included:
Young Professionals
Hispanic-owned Businesses
Women-owned/led Businesses
Cottage (home-based) Businesses
Local and Regional Chamber Members
Businesses would be asked about workforce, marketing, product/service development, and community connection to help determine opportunities for stronger programs and resources that community partners like the Chamber can provide. Information gathered will help to identify the current state of business in the area along with key challenges they face.
